Progress on the role of arginine pathway in macrophages at the maternal-fetal interface

In the maternal-fetal interface, macrophages, 20% of all immune cells, which play an important role in various periods of pregnancy, such as endometrial and vascular remodeling, invasion of trophoblast cells, the immune tolerance of embryo, and the final delivery. The arginine pathway is involved in many metabolic processes, and the arginine pathway in macrophages mainly involves two pathways: 1) the action of arginine nitric oxide synthase (NOS) to produce NO and citrulline (NO pathway); 2) Arginine produces ornithine and urea (ornithine pathway) under the action of arginase. This article focuses on the recent review of the maternal-fetal interface of arginine metabolic pathways and macrophages. Key words: Arginine; Macrophages; Maternal-fetal interface